La. governor candidates back plans to divert river water

THIBODAUX, La. - The four candidates in the race to become the next Louisiana governor each said fixing Louisiana's dire coastal land loss will require moving ahead with multibillion-dollar plans - opposed by many fishermen - to divert Mississippi River water into disappearing estuaries.

The three Republicans and lone Democratic candidates met Tuesday afternoon at a forum at Nicholls State University to discuss what they would do as governor to repair Louisiana's eroding coast. About 1,900 square miles of coast have eroded into the Gulf of Mexico since the 1930s.

The candidates largely voiced similar approaches on what they see as the steps necessary to take. Each one backed a $50 billion, 50-year master plan devised by Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration to slow land loss by diverting the Mississippi River into injured estuaries.